Extra special?
“Why do you think?” she said.
Proud of their family priest before, the pride grew even stronger when Father Cook chose to lead the 500-mile, seven-day Cycling for Change bike tour of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph to raise awareness of poverty as part of Catholic Charities’ national campaign to cut poverty in half within 10 years.
Three members of this year’s Cycling for Change team were also part of the three-month 5,000-mile tour last year that crossed the United States diagonally from Washington state to the Florida Keys.
John Stigers, of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Kansas City, rode last year shortly after surgery. This year, he said, he’s really dragging.
“My problem this year is that I didn’t train enough,” he said. “This year’s team is a strong bunch of riders. Father Steve has really impressed me. He hasn’t been riding that long.”
This year’s ride began in Kansas City, then moved north to St. Joseph and Maryville, then south and east to Lake Viking, Richmond, Warrensburg, Clinton and Harrisonville before the final leg June 10 at the Catholic Center in Kansas City.
Stigers said he had to go on this year’s ride for a simple reason.
“Poverty hasn’t gotten any better,” he said. “It will take a cooperative effort of government, church and business. If we all work together, we can solve this problem. But if we keep fighting, it will continue.”
Ditto, said Karl Shafer, also a St. Francis Xavier parishioner, and a veteran of both Cycling for Change rides.
“It’s something I feel passionate about,” he said. “Hopefully, more and more people will get involved. And seeing the country from the saddle of a bike is a privilege.”
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Jeremy Ruzich, who last year needed stitches to close a gash on his chin as Cycling for Change rolled into Kansas City, is unscathed this year.
“It (the ride) wears you out physically every day,” he said. “But the more you get involved, the more you want to get involved.”
Ruzich said he is riding to spread Jesus’ word.
“The basis of this cause is the main call of the Gospel — to serve the least of the people,” he said.
Other riders joined this year because they could make a one-week commitment instead of last year’s three-month tour.
“I couldn’t do it last year, but when I found out it was one week this year, that’s doable,” said Dave Schmidt, a St. Peter parishioner.